IN Digestion

Imam Ahmad relates from Anas (Allah be well pleased with him), with a chain of transmission all of whose narrators are those of Bukhari except Hammad ibn Salama, who is one of the narrators of Muslim, that the Ethiopians danced in front of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace); dancing and saying [in their language], “Muhammad is a righteous servant.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “What are they saying?” And they said, “‘Muhammad is a righteous servant’” - Other versions of the hadith clarify that this took place in the mosque in Medina,

Because of this hadeeth, I do not mind working all day - while I have this playing on the background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJQgVYG7ELE

While I rock in my chair and enjoy this in totality, and I totally feel more open hearted and jovial about life, and I feel as if I love Muhammad Sallalllahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

I have no idea what the offical salafi verdict on something like that is, but I can say with some safety that with my upbringing as well as most of my friends - we would feel very uncomfortable doing that equating the behavior with children more so - and would probably excerssse some restraint wether physically in not enjoying it so much that I am rocking in my chair, or spiritually for feeling guilty for taking pleasuure in  something which goes against the way of the Salaf

So who is better, - one at the time of the companions who is happy, juvilant and DANCING in front of Ar Rasu Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, while making dhikr, or someone who from percieved piety tries to refrain himself from enjoying and moving along with his body and soul while listening to words talking about the love of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam

Like I said, I do not know the offical Salafi position - but I would never have been able to enjoy this whole expeirence or have benefitted from it as much as I do now as a Closet Soofie.

Sas

I just do not get it - in the name of: I am not good enough, or you must seek more knowledge - no one is willing to discuss these issues frankly and openly with each other.

So far the only person I have any respect for in this whole spectacle is myself, my wife, hafeez101, al-mizzi -

So far I can not for the life of me get a soofie to come and share his views and openly engage in disucssion because they think the salafis are not worth it and they will be made takfeer of.

So what!

If anyone really, I mean REALLY REALLY from the bottom of their heart cared about the way to Ahlus Sunnah they would realize we live in a time where salafis and soofies are in contact with each other and learn to live with the  fact that both sides believe the other side does kufr - and get OVER it

I know Al Mizzi believes I believe kufr is ok, I know Al Harrani believes it - but that should not stop me from talking to them? There are thousands of other people who would benefit from such a discussion.

Soofies are more worthless then Salafis, even if their way is correct, they do not have any balls - its the same as the other salafi groups - talk big around each other, pass fatwa around - but when it comes to the other side - ‘We have to REFER to the Kibbar Al Ulemaa’ - Same old, Same old -

I would like to show my tremendous respect and appreciation to Abul Layth for always saying what he believes and backing down when proven wrong, and prowling forward until he is disproved -And Altohough he to has become like those others who refuse to talk to Salafis he did so only after taking it up with Al harrani, god bless Al Harrani, but I don’t think anyone who he disagrees with can have a frank discussion with him.

What however I can’t stand is the fact that Abul Layth ans his friends take offense to being made takfeer of - get OVER it - the Salafis are only applying what they have learned - thats all - so they will make takfeer of you, but lets get beyond that - lets just remember its their ijtihad and they are entitled to it, just as many soofies are entitled to their beliefs that Ibn Taymiyah was a kaafir - it’s ALL good, since we are all seeking the truth -

I don’t even mind the name calling, or the labelling of kufr - but if no one is willing to talk to each other frankly since everyone is a hretic - it pisses me off.

And no, I refuse to go sit at the feets of scholars for 20 years before I can come back and call all of my friends and family to what I think is correct.

Soofies, Salafis, Idiots - all the same.

I am coming from a Salafi background and lookng into the proofs for the way of the Soofies - specifically in calling Ar Rasul Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam at his grave to make Du’a to Allaah.

As you can see, the Salafis and the Salafi Jihadis will put aside my questions and focus on their agenda (propoganda if you will) and reuse to answer my questions - where as so far the two soofies I am learning from are more then willing to answer any questions I have. Honestly, I am even asking my Salafi questions to them since I am getting actual answers.

This brings up two things. Salafi Jihadis are total idiots - they believe every other Salafi group is incorrect, and here they have the chance to patiently sit and call to their Dawah, and would probably effect many people but they give up when I ask a question they deem irrelevant.

You can’t get them to talk to anyone but themselves - they have no idea how to call people to their way - I am a better caller to their way then they are.

And Salafis just baby you, as if you have no idea what your talking about -

Ironically enough they have so much reverance for following the way of the Salaf, but even in the most simple of issues - they are hard pressed to find a Salaf for their beliefs before Ibn Taymiyah/Ibnul Qayyim -  Soofies are to - don’t get me wrong, but they don’t baby me - and they treat me with respect and point me in directions I can actually get answers.

But i can not rememember the last time any Salafi Jihadi came to me, and tried to get me to accept their views in a nice calm fashion with proofs, etc. It’s always, he is a kaafir, he’s a murjee, jihad is this and everyone else is a sell out - who knows, maybe its even true. But no one is going to figure that out from the way they act.

Oh yea, they are quite silly as well - they are doing all of this in the name of Dawah, but if they really were - they would definitely try harder to show me that they are willing to answer my questions - firstly, because I am already:

1. A known Salafi for a long time, so I have proven my sincerity towards the teachings of Ibn Raymiyah
2. Good Friends with some of them
3. Have a LARGE circle of influence, and I am close friends to their Opponent Abul Layth and would be able to talk to him were my beliefs different then him
4. There are 3k people daily at least who are exposed to Salafi teachings on IN, that could easily become 3k people exposed to Soofie teachings if I was able to convince those around me (and I’d like to think I am pretty damn good at that)

So they are wasting their time with each  other, and if no one is going to answer my questions except soofies, and I am convinced of it, I will of course call to what I believe in and as of now, my closest friends,   are all kuffar now since we all have shakk about this issue - which if you have doubt about, your also pretty much a kaafir - or on your ay towards being one.

If they ‘really’ sincerely cared about their Dawah, they would go out of their way to answer my questions with hikmah. But nope, its pettiness  - who can quote the most this and the most that, and no answers at all - all answers are like: “Uh Duh  Sas, I thought you believed in the Quran or Sunnah” - well Duh, I do.

I will crack up if Soofies end up being correct, and I end up becoming a caller to the way of the soofies. I already know at least 10 or so people that are waiting for me to formulate my beliefs so that I can impart it into them - and if they agree, they will follow - but they also have given up on Al Harrani and Abul Fadl as actually being able to provide any of the answers we need.

Relevant Threads on IN:
http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=11370
http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=11287

I even offered in my limited knowledge to debate one of them - to actually hope/see if he could prove me wrong, but hes much more interested in writing essays about someone who I do not even learn from - yes it is true he opened the doors for me, but there are individuals, scholars, daees who have been following the path a long time before Abul Layth, and those are the people I am learning from -

Secondly, I have my own learning style anyway-
Sas

Since I have primarily been working with Salafis and converting them to different branches of Salafiyah, etc. for some time - I do feel as if I have some experience.

People have always asked why I mocked them instead of advising them patiently with manners.

Well, lets just say a lot of Salafis without even realizing it pretty much act like Faraz, if you attack any of their ‘crown jewels’ - granted, in his example he is just upset with me.

But, that behavior is totally reminiscent of most Salafis, when you speak about issues that hit home with them - takfeer of Saudi Arabian Rulers, Scholars for Dollars, Jihad, Osama, etc. - once those taboo topics surface, so does their insistence on their way at all costs - even if they come off as Faraz comes of.

People like that only learn from being insulted, because they are so used to being around ‘others’ who have the same views, same beliefs - that they gain certainty in their ideas because of all of their friends who have the same ideas - while altogether they probably know nothing.

Well back to the point, I have actually been able to convert some of these people over to the Dark Side - but only after insulting them, their scholars, their beliefs - and then somewhere along the line they realize I know the verdicts of their scholars more then they do - and wham - they are finally able to listen.

But rarely has anyone I know ever broken through to them except by treating them like the clowns they are.

Sas

From a comment on one of my posts:

I always thought the Deen was black and white (lol), y’know since it’s day is as clear as it’s night etc.
The Deen I’m upon is crystal clear, full of yaqeen, looks like a lot of ppl here have major shubuhaat.

Let me give my Explantion

1. ibn Taymiyah was right - he was white, he was day
2. I follow Ibn Taymiyah
3. I have full clarity
5. Ibn Hajar and Imam An Nawawi were black, they were night, they were wrong.
6. Anyone who follows them are on blackness
7. Ibn Hajar, Imam An Nawawi and others have ‘major’ Shubhuhat.

Got to love the Salafis who love these guys, follow them, need them and their books - yet consider them black, and filled with Major Shubuhat.

At least the soofies can honestly not even need and/or rely upon the works of Ibn Taymiyah, so while they consider him deviant, its not like they secretly have a crush on him, and have his books on their shelf . (What Salafi DOES NOT WISH, he could sit and kiss the feets of Imam An Nawawi, the ’shubhuat’ filled / non crystal clear muslim).

Sas

I love my friends, a few of them - I learned my religon from some of them - we have gone through a lot togther relgiosuly, and I have no personal attachment to ANY of them that I can think of except that we have always for as long as I Can remember only ever gotten together to talk about Islam, and share what we knew with each other.

According to one of my friends, I am on my way to becoming a kaafir - and two of my friends if Abu Zubair was correct in what he said about one of them, and I assume the other holds the same beliefs) are kuffar.

You can see it here:
http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/showpost.php?p=100453&postcount=27

What we do for this religon…

On a more positive note, I am still not a kaafir yet - and nothing makes ‘as much sense’ as Actions - to dwelve into beliefs seems a bit scary.

I know, that if I believe it is ok to ask a dead man to make dua to Allaah, and never so much as even think about doing it myself, I have committed kufr in my heart and am a kaafir - according to what I have learned for seven years.

I am still waiting on the proof for it to see if I will believe that or not - and to see if Sas will make takfeer on Sas. Scary stuff - but I have to know…

http://abuuthman.muslimpad.com/2006/10/19/3/

Salafis becoming soofies seems to be what it is all about these days.

I have no idea who Abu Uthman is, or who his friends are - but - my story is his story to - a close friend of mine Abul Layth is something, soofie or something - but not sure.

But, you know - whatever - I still have not sorted out what I am but, I am getting there.

So far, I do know that I

1. Accept the Athari School of Thought
2. Accept the Asharee School of Thought
3. Accept the Maturidi School of Thought
4. Accept The Salafi School of Thought
5. I understand the idea of Good Bid’a
6. I understand personal tasaawfuf, (not connected to isnad back to the companions, etc.)
7. I do not understand tariqahs
8. I do not understand the dancing
9. I do understand the miilad.
10. I do not understand or know the details of what is kufr in ways of Calling Dead People to make Dua for us.
11. Regrettably (for now) i have referred to Hamza Yusuf, as Shaikh Hamza Yusuf

Lots more can be said, probably.

I still follow the salafi creed, but I do not believe the asharees, and people of tafwid are of innovation and misguidance (so therefore I am misguided myself according to the school of thought I follow).

I would probably not care if I was in a Milad (but I was like that even when I thoguth they were bida)

I do not belong to a Tariqah

I do not think I do any bidas?

I do not call to dead people, or Ar Rasul Sallaallahu Alayhi wa Sallam - and I have no idea about any of that stuff yet, I’ll probably learn the details of that in time.

I am listening to 66 tapes by Shaikh Nu Ha Mim Keller, and so far, I really feel like its a whole bunch of bakwas but I am hoping I can pick up the actual details from what he’s saying, but I think I am going to have to listen to a lot of spiritual / weird stuff before I get to meat of this whole Tasawuf stuff.

So what am I, the obviuous being an ignorant - but is there a label for people like me?

Can I finally be considered a Modernist Soofie Asharee or some cool label like that?

Well I see that as usual, for whatever reasons, piety, fake piety, sincerity, percieved sincerity - many of those people who have an ascription to knowledge are again removing all of their blogs, and as always asking for their posts to be removed.

Minus the SJ’s, I knew it was coming… and it did. I love predicting lame behavior and seeing it come to pass.

Just wondering, what reason it always is?

1. Are you shy?
2. Do you think your not pious if  people read  your thoughts?
3. Are you trying to be soofie, and away from the dunya?
4. Do you not like people?
5. Do you always complain, you do not like people?
6. Do you hate the fact people come and talk to you or comment on your blog?

I happen to have spoken to many of these people - and it’s always this same underlying reason, “I hate people” - etc.

If it was true, then you would not have posted in the first place
If its not true, then you hate the fact that you crave people and are lonely

Either way - its LAME.

Secondly, I am very tired of anonmous posters - If you can’t tell me who you are, your not welcome on my blog. IN can be a lame place, where people who hate other people will sign up with fake names only to talk to the people they hate, then only to leave and come back later to - but here this is my blog, and I will not tolerate lame behavior.

So I ask in the honour of Dr. Rabee (who said that salafis should use their real names on message boards) - that if you come here you make it clear To Everyone who you are - what your other names are, etc.

Yes, that applies to those of you I know in real life as well.

My friend started his own Salafi Masjid a year or two ago - called Masjid ‘Isa - (by the way my other friends COULD really learn from him, I can always reach him, and he is inviting all of my other friends to meet me at his Masjid for Iftar tonight).

So two things, I can always get a hold of him and he does whatever I need - and he is always inviting me over for food - what else could anyone want.

BUT, I do not in any way want to spend the 27th night of Ramadhan at his masjid - I have been going to Masjid ‘Umar since I was a child, (back when I used to play gameboy at the back and not even try to catch the seconc rak’ah, I would only catch the second ruku’ so my prayer consisted of 1. sitting, Tasleem - and standing and praying 2 rak’as on my own - So yes as a child, i was praying almost 8-12-even 20 rak’as!

But then I moved on to eventually trying to pray 20 rak’as… I did that maybe 3 or 4 times in my life -

I have a lot of gas ALL of the time, so I pretty much renew my wudu at the end of each tasleem anyway -

But, what my final ’settled way’ was and i say this with some shame -

I pray about 4 or 6 rak’as in total and then I get tired and sit down and pray the rest of them while I see many younger and older people praying standing up.

I don’t know what to do about that… I know if I am standing, I will get tired and want to jut not pray - but I feel bad not praying… so I sit down.

BUT more than that, My heart is at Masjid Umar - each year I go there and i feel comfortable there, - many of the people I love from there though won’t be there, but its still the Masjid of my dreams - the perfect masjid.

So I will attempt to leave Masjid eesaa sometime along the night and slip over to Masjid Umar with my step kids.

Notice, now Anyone in Ohio who has not met me yet who reads my blog has no excuses - My parents home phone is 61 848 8610 *I do not know my own cell phone number* if no one picks up, leave a message.

Ironically the only people who have made any attempt to contact me are *surprise* *surprise* Non Salafis. or very very Deviant Salafis

By the way the best part is sleeping and hearing the recitation! To be lying down sleeping thinking about Allaah while you hear the quran on, in the still of the night at 4am and to be to tired to do anything but be asleep. That is Mac Daddy.

Yes, I am living proof that many of us prefer the optional fun things in Islam versus the daily regular going to the masjid every day things… but what can I do… it’s just so much fun!

Acchaa - I am gonig back to Houston, TX - I am finding it more comfortable to live online more and more - I hate HATE hate talking to peolpe, sitting in lectures, or listening to anyone.

But if that person is onl — Wait, I’ll finish this whole segment later on -

Back to going back to Houston.

My uncle is still in the hospitol, though he can very clearly say “No” I really do hope he gets better soon -

So, Abul Layth seems to be a soofie? What mipecable timing - because I tell you, I have had it with the Salafi movement… I need to know if there is something out there that is better - there has to be. It just can not be that according to my own